CHAMBERSBURG - A new contract between Chambersburg Hospital and the union representing its health care workers is a win-win for both the hospital and employees, but especially for the community that uses the hospital's services.

Registered nurse John Reinhart said health care workers are happy with the new contract, which was ratified Thursday by an overwhelming 99 percent majority of members of SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania..

Employees will get 8 percent raises over the life of the new four-year contract, but Reinhart said the biggest benefit is improved educational benefits that will make it possible for workers to further their career.

"It will make it possible for employees to further their education, which will benefit not just the employee but the hospital and our patients," Rinehart said.

He said the contract also maintains affordable healthcare coverage for employees and their families and insures that new employees will receive competitive wages, which in turn should draw more skilled employees.

"We want to keep good jobs right here in our community.” he said. “Health care workers should come here and make their career here with jobs that allow them to support their families.”

The contract was a compromise in which union members agreed to pay more of their health care coverage but got a better package of educational benefits along with the wage increase.

"The education benefit is so important to keeping skilled workers right here," Rinehart said.

He cited the case of a co-worker who started out in an entry-level job, then went back to school twice, eventually becoming a lab technician.

"Our patients benefit from that kind of investment in the workforce," he said.

Rinehart, who is employed in Chambersburg Hospital's cardiology cath lab, was on the union's negotiating team.

"We had a commonality," he said of the negotiations. "We wanted to make the hospital more competitive."

He said everyone on both sides of the table were headed in the same direction, making compromises which kept a good benefit package for employees, coupled with the raises, while acknowledging the hospital's needs also.

"I think people were pretty happy (with the contract) once they look at the details," he said. "At the end of the day, after all the negotiating, everyone was able to shake hands and go back to work as a cohesive team."

SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania represents employees from all departments at the hospital.

Chambersburg Hospital, owned by Summit Health, is one of the largest employers in Franklin County.